Main opposition deems economic package for coronavirus insufficient, makes proposals

ANKARA

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The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has criticized the government’s economic package in the struggle against the coronavirus, announcing its own 27-point Community Solidarity Program.

“There is no concrete solution to these concrete problems in the palace’s package,” CHP spokesperson Faik Öztrak told reporters on March 19, referring to the program that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced March 18.

Turkey should develop reasonable measures on foreign trade and the capital movements area, along with banking regulations, said Öztrak, noting that the government’s package fell far short of expectations.

There was no cure for workers, farmers, craftspeople or those involved in the trades, Öztrak said, adding that the package was devoid of any other worthwhile measure as well.

Commerce in the market has stopped, particularly for craftspeople or those involved in the trades, the CHP spokesman said, arguing the government package simply postponed these sectors’ taxes.

Öztrak said just postponing city taxes for those in the tourism industry was nonsense since there would be no potential for tourism. He also chided the government for only envisioning a decrease in the value-added tax for domestic airline tickets rather disinfectant products.

CHP Istanbul Deputy Akif Hamzaçebi invited the state to make some self-sacrifice, stating that the social security and health system should be designed according to new disease risks. In the CHP economy desk’s package that was announced by Hamzaçebi, the party is proposing some of the following:

“Tax and insurance premium debts and public receivables should be restructured. It should provide a reverse deduction for income and corporate tax. Payment terms should be extended. Pending VAT refunds must be paid in advance. Tax and insurance premium debts should be postponed. A six-month short-time work payment arrangement should be made. The wages of the employees in the workplaces whose activities are stopped should be covered by the Unemployment Fund. Due to the outbreak, employment terminations should be avoided. Public employees with or without children should be given administrative or excise leave. All medical staff should be given a salary bonus. Pending VAT refunds must be paid in advance. Family insurance applications should be put into effect. Farmers’ credit debt should be restructured.”